IT World • Created November 11, 2013 04:00

MTN alerts customers to new SIM swap fraud

According to MTN, the deception which has been noticed in jurisdictions outside Nigeria, is similar to ‘phishing’ and its sole aim is to mislead telephone subscribers into divulging personal information that could later be used to defraud them.In the latest incidents, the individuals behind the deception initiate calls to telephone subscribers, purporting to be staff […]

MTN alerts customers to new SIM swap fraud
MTN alerts customers to new SIM swap fraud

According to MTN, the deception which has been noticed in jurisdictions outside Nigeria, is similar to ‘phishing’ and its sole aim is to mislead telephone subscribers into divulging personal information that could later be used to defraud them.
In the latest incidents, the individuals behind the deception initiate calls to telephone subscribers, purporting to be staff of a telecom service provider and request sensitive personal information from the telephone subscribers.
Unsuspecting subscribers who willingly provide information will subsequently become victims of illegal SIM swaps, paving the way for online banking fraud and international calling theft.
“As a responsible corporate citizen, MTN is always on its toes. We are obliged to alert our customers of all the possible ways in which their personal or financial security can be compromised by unscrupulous elements, through the fraudulent use of our platform,” said, Akinwale Goodluck, Corporate Services Executive, MTN Nigeria.
Goodluck said while it is not unusual for some customers to occasionally receive calls from MTN Customer Care, to verify information on SIM registration, he stressed that such calls would only be made from one dedicated number.

“That number is 180. Anything short of that is suspect, and customers should be careful. Also, we will never call, send emails or text messages asking anyone to divulge sensitive security information such as their MTN Security Number, bank details or ATM PINs.”
He urged customers to utilize their unique MTN Security Number which he said was designed to prevent identity theft and further safeguard the confidentiality of all MTN customers.

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